Franklin’s Kyndell Jochim fights for a loose ball against Mt. Vernon on Thursday.
Tom Russo | For the Daily Journal
FORTVILLE
It took Franklin one quarter to shake off the rust.
Last year’s Class 4A state runner-up Grizzly Cubs outscored Mt. Vernon 19-5 in the second quarter in picking up a 49-31 season-opening win over the host Marauders on Thursday.
It was Mt. Vernon’s second game. It dropped to 1-1 after a Tuesday victory at Whiteland.
“All five of our starters played fall sports. We were taking some good shots but we weren’t shooting a very good percentage,” Franklin coach Mike Armstrong said. “It’s going to take us a little while to find our shooting legs and our basketball legs, and I think we’ll be fine.
“In the second quarter we were able to make shots, but we struggled to make shots in other parts of the game.”
Franklin’s Erica Buening defends during Thursday’s game at Mt. Vernon.
Tom Russo | For the Daily Journal
Franklin coach Mike Armstrong reacts during Thursday’s game at Mt. Vernon.
Tom Russo | For the Daily Journal
Franklin’s Kyndell Jochim fights for a loose ball against Mt. Vernon on Thursday.
Tom Russo | For the Daily Journal
In the second quarter, Franklin had five 3-pointers from four different players. Defensively, the Grizzly Cubs helped cause seven second-period Marauder turnovers, including two five counts on inbounds plays and a 10-second violation.
“We have been focusing defensively,” Armstrong said. “We have the ability to shoot the ball really well. One of the goals I have for us is to become a better defensive team. We wanted to show that in the game tonight. We had a really good stretch (in the second quarter) and we had a really good stretch in the last three minutes of the game. (Brooklyn) York was able to make some steals and get a few layups off defense. It’s something we’re working at and we want to be better at it.
“The stretch in the second quarter kind of gapped the game for us.”
Along with the turnovers, Mt. Vernon went just 1 for 6 from the field in the second period. Its lone bucket in the period was a 3 from Easton Wampler.
Mt. Vernon coach Julie Shelton thought the second-quarter struggles were aided by having one of her more experienced players in foul trouble. Khloe Patterson sat most of the quarter due to fouls.
Shelton has just three players — Patterson, Easton Wampler and Ellery Minch — that played significant minutes last season.
“We have to have Khloe Patterson on the floor,” Shelton said. “I sat her the whole quarter because of fouls. We have to find a way to keep her out of foul trouble, because when she is on the floor we’re pretty good.”
The Grizzly Cubs had a balanced scoring attack. Erica Buening had a team-best 11 points. Kyndell Jochim and Scarlett Kimbrell each had 10 and York scored nine.
Franklin made nine 3-pointers.
Mt. Vernon was led by Wampler with 10 points and Minch with nine.
Franklin plays Columbus North at home on Saturday.
